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WEEKLY INFORMATION FROM THE COMMUNICATION WORKERS UNION
SUMMARY

Attachments or LTB's can be emailed or downloaded from the National Site

Volume 9 Issue 18 Paragraphs 281-295 7 May 2004
 


SUMMARY
GENERAL
281 Meetings with CWU Supported MPs
282 CWU Annual Conference Dates & Venues 2004 - 2006
283 Branch Magazine and Website Competition
284 Cuba Solidarity Campaign - Branch Affiliation
285 Working Hours and Holidays in the European Union 2003
286 Sponsored Bike Ride
287 Legal Services Department : Annual Conference - June 2004
288 Branch Microsites
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
No items this week
HEALTH AND SAFETY
289 Paid Time Off for Safety Representatives in Royal Mail - Employment Tribunals
TELECOMS
290 Project Touchpoint
291 Telewest Bank and Public Holidays - 3 and 31 May
292 Telewest - Review of Pay 2004
293 Accenture HR Services - Current Quarters Performance
FINANCIAL SERVICES
No items this week
POSTAL
294 Interim Productivity Scheme - Progress Report - Week 03
295 Interim Productivity Scheme - Progress Report - Week 04
LETTERS TO BRANCHES
183 28.04.04 Rules Revision Conference NEC Amendments - GS
184 28.04.04 O2 Pay 2004 - Steve Baguley
185 29.04.04 NEC Elections 2004/2005 - Steve Baguley
186 30.04.04 Eurest Pay Review2004 - Accenture HR Services - Sally Bridge
187 30.04.04 Channel 4 Despatches Programme/Media Coverage - Dave Ward
188 30.04.04 BT Pay 2004 - Consultative Ballot - Steve Baguley
189 30.04.04 POL Pay Agreement 2004 - Ballot Result - Andy Furey
190 04.05.04 BT/HP Strategic Partnership - Bill McClory
191 04.05.04 Restructuring Redundancies in Telereal - Simon Sapper
192 04.05.04 BT/HP Strategic Partnership - Bill McClory
193 04.05.04 Quadrant Recruitment - Steve Baguley
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GENERAL
281
Meetings with CWU Supported MPs
BOB paragraph 558, 10 October 2003, reported that regular liaison meetings with the CWU Group of MPs had been established and gave details of dates and attendees up to March 2004. The meetings from April to July 2004 have now been arranged and for your information I list below the dates of the meetings and those nominated to attend.
18 May
North West Regional Secretary/Political Secretary
John Holmes, Chris Murphy, Graham Colk
15 June
Scotland Regional Secretary/Political Secretary
NEC members tbc
20 July
Northern Ireland Regional Secretary
NEC members tbc.
Billy Hayes, General Secretary

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282
CWU Annual Conference Dates & Venues 2004 - 2006
Conference 2004
Rules & Annual Conference this year will be held at Bournemouth from
13 - 18 June 2004.
Conference 2005
We have received correspondence from the Bournemouth International Centre advising us of a proposed BIC redevelopment scheme. The work on the first phase commences in July 2004, the second will commence in November 2004 and the target date for completion is October 2005. On this basis BIC tell us it will be impossible to host our conference in June 2005.
Given the current size of our conference and the requirements for halls to accommodate all the industry/constituency conferences our options for alternative venues are very limited. The Winter Gardens at Blackpool has only one week available during the whole of May and June, that date is 12 to 17 June 2005.
The NEC has therefore agreed to this date & venue for 2005, which has been booked.
Conference 2006
We have a confirmed booking at Bournemouth for 21 to 26 May 2006 when we will hopefully see the benefit of the refurbishment which includes the addition of a fourth hall which will reduce the need to hire extra hotel accommodation for the sectional conferences.
Any enquiries concerning this paragraph should be directed in the first instance to Peter Dodd on 020 8971 7331

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283
Branch Magazine and Website Competition
Web wonders and branch hacks take note! The annual awards rewarding the very best CWU branch magazines and websites are up for grabs once again and as normal the competition will reach its climax at Annual Conference in Bournemouth.
Nominations are now open, so it's time to think about getting recognition for the branch editors and internet boffins who beaver away to bring you the information you need at branch level.
Editors: All you have to do is decide which edition of the magazine was your best of the last twelve months and send three copies to: Dawn Jeffery, CWU Communications Department, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX.
Webmasters and mistresses: email your details, including the branch URL (website address) to: djeffery@cwu.org
Deadline for entries is Friday May 21 so don't delay, particularly considering the substantial prizes at stake thanks to Hamilton Bank which is once again sponsoring the competition.
This year the winners of both the branch magazine and branch website competitions will walk away with a total of £300 in software vouchers, enabling them to improve their publications still further.

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284
Cuba Solidarity Campaign - Branch Affiliation
Cuba Solidarity Campaign has written to us asking Branches/individuals to take a moment and consider affiliating to the Cuba Solidarity Campaign if you haven't yet done so.
For convenience, the aims and objectives of Cuba Solidarity Campaign are given below:
The Cuba Solidarity Campaign is the British campaign for the defence of Cuba and its peoples' right to self-determination and national sovereignty.

For 38 years Cuba, a small nation of 11 million people, has been subjected to sustained interference in its internal affairs by the United States.
It has suffered military aggression and economic hostility in the form of a trade blockade and the continued presence of a US Navy and Marine base at Guantánamo on Cuban territory.
The US Government in:

The US's aim in stepping up the blockade is to isolate Cuba, strangle it economically and create the conditions for external intervention.
US hostility to Cuba has increased despite six specific UN General Assembly resolutions, passed with overwhelming majorities and almost no opposition, demanding the total, immediate and unconditional lifting of the US blockade. The Helms-Burton Law has been condemned by almost every country in the world as an illegal and unacceptable extension of US law outside its territory.
Additional Resources:-
Please find below the link to the CSC's new Website. www.handsoffcuba.org.uk/ Additionally, why not sign up to their mailing list by clicking on the following link www.cuba-solidarity.org.uk/MailingList/
The organisation is holding their AGM on the 5th June at Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, London, WC1 starting at 10am with a finish time of 4pm
Any enquiries on this paragraph should be addressed to the General Secretary's Department quoting the reference GS 15.11

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285
Working Hours and Holidays in the European Union 2003
The table below, compiled by IDS Employment Europe, summarises the most recent information on hours of work and holiday entitlement in the 15 member states of the European Union.
 
#View table in pdf

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286
Sponsored Bike Ride
Michael Martin is a CWU member at the Kingston Delivery Office and has been a member since 1989 when he joined the Post Office. Michael is taking part in a sponsored cycle ride on behalf of the 'Stroke Association'. It is an event that they organise and all money raised goes to the Stroke Association. They are a registered charity and their Registered Charity Number is 211015.
The cycle ridge itself is 32 miles in length and starts at Tower Bridge and ends at Hurst Park, near to Hampton Court - it crosses 14 bridges over the Thames on route. It would be appreciated if Branch Secretaries could post a notice in their office bringing this event to the attention of our members to consider sponsoring Michael. Cheques should be made payable to 'Stroke Association' and sent to Michael at the following address:
32 Cumberland House
Kingston upon Thames
Surrey
KT2 7LH

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287
Legal Services Department : Annual Conference - June 2004
The normal arrangements for interviews will be made at Annual Conference 2004. Due to the ever increasing number of requests for interviews, Branches who wish to avail themselves of this facility should write to the Department, quoting the case reference number and the member's name, marking the envelope "Conference Interviews". This will enable the Legal Services Department to have the necessary file of papers available at the Conference venue. The interview facility is for personal injury cases and employment law issues.
In addition, there will be a Legal Services stall and various forms and information will be available. Messrs. Simpson Millar will also provide free legal advice and I trust this facility will be of assistance to all branches.
Any enquiries on the above paragraph should be referred to Mr Tony Rupa, Legal Services Officer, 150 The Broadway, Wimbledon, London, SW19 1RX.

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288
Branch Microsites
As detailed in previous BOBs, all Branch Secretaries are now responsible for their own microsite on the new CWU National Site. Many branches STILL have not gotten in touch about this matter - if you do not know your username and password, please contact the web editor immediately in order to obtain these so you can update your branch details. I am happy to talk anyone through this if assistance is required.
Any enquiries regarding this paragraph to Abigail Lawrence-Jones please, on webeditor@cwu.org, or 020 8971 7442

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HEALTH AND SAFETY
289
Paid Time Off for Safety Representatives in Royal Mail - Employment Tribunals
BOB No.14/04 Paragraph 230 reported to Branches in detail that Royal Mail had taken a national position of refusing to grant paid time off for Safety Representatives Training in respect of applications to attend TUC/CWU Health and Safety Training Courses (Stages I, II, III and Occupational Safety & Health Certificate Courses and all other Health & Safety courses). As a result four Employment Tribunal applications were lodged by Safety Representatives from Newcastle Amal Branch with the support of CWU HQ as "Test Cases". Preliminary directions hearings had taken place with the full hearing date set for May.
During this time, negotiations with Royal Mail continued in an effort to reach an agreement and avoid having to go through with the Employment Tribunals. I am pleased to inform Branches and Safety Representatives that further efforts to negotiate a settlement have been successful. Royal Mail have now conceded that paid time off will be granted for all four Newcastle Amal Safety Reps; Brian Irvine, Ian Patterson, John McGarry and Andy Spark on a "without prejudice" basis.
The agreement was concluded by the National Health and Safety Officer and Royal Mail UK's Head of Industrial Relations (Ops) late on Wednesday 28 April with written confirmation having now been received.
The Employment Tribunal Cases will now be withdrawn and Branches are requested to put on hold any further ET Claims in order that negotiations can be progressed on a revised National Health & Safety Representation, Consultation and Training Agreement.
Branches, Safety Representatives and Regional Health & Safety Forums will be consulted and kept updated on developments.
All enquiries should be addressed to: Dave Joyce, National Health, Safety & Environment Officer quoting reference AS3

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TELECOMS
290
Project Touchpoint
Discussions have taken place with Telewest on the implications of its recent announcement under the Project Touchpoint banner.
The overall stated objective by Telewest is to create two distinct functional structures that each have end to end responsibility for its respective field visits - either install or service.
Based on a national aggregation of national statistics, the company believes that it requires to deploy somewhere in the region of 400 BBEs into Group Operations. Telewest has sought the views of the Union over the means by which BBEs will be identified for selection. In response the Union has stated it would wish to see voluntarism first, then a method of selection which is open, fair and transparent in the event of insufficient volunteers. This is under review by the company.
A number of members have raised concern over the long term future of the installation arm of Telewest and where it sits as an integral part of Telewest. A request has been made to the company to state its long term intentions regarding installation by a direct labour workforce and what would be the career progression paths.
It is the Union's understanding that the service function move into Group Operations will not initially affect Pay and Reward, whilst there may be a possibility in the future. Once again a request has been made of the company to make its views known and to give a commitment to discuss this issue at some point in the future. Whilst the integration of a fully flexible service workforce is not imminent, the company has been asked to state its views on how long this may take and what would be the career progression path, and to commit to timely consultation.
There is the issue of attendance requirements for both installation and service and the Union has sought an attendance pattern structure which is not unduly onerous in terms of the frequency of weekend working.
Finally, management are considering a process by which the Union, via its site representatives structure, can brief its members on their proposals related to Project Touchpoint.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary

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291
Telewest Bank and Public Holidays - 3 and 31 May
During March, the Union was in discussions with regard to Telewest resourcing requirements over the Easter period. The outcome led to changed working hours over the Easter weekend, covering service work only.
The Union is of the view that, where possible, the maximum amount of staff where customer demands allow, should have the facility of having these holidays when they fall. Within Telewest, with the exception of three named holidays, all the other Public Holidays are 'floating holidays'. The company has stated that it has had some very positive feedback as a result of this change, so they have decided to do exactly the same for the two bank holidays in May, which the Union welcomes.
There will be no installations, only service work on the following dates:

There would appear to have been some confusion caused over opening times within the operations centres over the Easter weekend, for which the company has apologised to the affected community. To give the field the support needed, the operations centres will open from 8am until 5.30pm on these two dates.
Management will change the rotas to reflect these hours and issue the new rotas as soon as they have them. Telewest will honour any holidays already booked over this time, so BBEs who have already made arrangements should contact their managers as soon as possible.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary

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292
Telewest - Review of Pay 2004
The Union has made representations to Telewest with regard to discussions on a salary increase for the BBE community for 2004. The company has responded positively, agreeing to a set of pay round discussions; furthermore to agreeing a structure to those discussions with the objective of reaching agreement in time for the Salary review date of 1 July.
They would propose that discussions take place between 14 May and mid-June. Assuming that we are able to reach an agreement, this would allow time for discussions and a consultative exercise with the BBEs.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary

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293
Accenture HR Services - Current Quarters Performance
Accenture HR Services have reported that it has made significant progress in achieving the financial targets set and which have been reported upon internally to employees in a number of presentations.
This has been made possible by the winning of new business from BT in terms of salary sacrifice and Smart Pensions. Some areas have exceeded the quarterly forecast whilst others have not - in particular LS has challenging targets - given the lack of demand from BT.
Work is taking place to define a robust Resourcing Model. At present there exists over 140 staff who are engaged on some form of temporary contract. The intent is to develop robust financial reporting controls. Discussions will take place with the Union focusing on maximising conversion onto direct labour contracts. Consideration is being given to moving certain functions around the company bringing work where there may be an under-utilisation of resource.
Brian Healy, Assistant Secretary

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POSTAL
294
Interim Productivity Scheme - Progress Report - Week 03
We are monitoring the introduction of the new productivity schemes nationally and within that process we have requested progress reports. Please find attached the latest progress report I have received on the deployment of the Mail Centre/Distribution schemes for your information.
It should be noted that all of the Business' planned headcount reduction figures are subject to agreements being concluded locally on how the financial savings should be achieved. In addition, actual headcount reductions stated include members who have resigned, etc.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.300.42(a).
Att: PE19

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295
Interim Productivity Scheme - Progress Report - Week 04
We are monitoring the introduction of the new productivity schemes nationally and within that process we have requested progress reports. Please find attached the latest progress report I have received on the deployment of the Mail Centre/Distribution schemes for your information.
It should be noted that all of the Business' planned headcount reduction figures are subject to agreements being concluded locally on how the financial savings should be achieved. In addition, actual headcount reductions stated include members who have resigned, etc.
All enquiries regarding the content of this paragraph should be addressed to Martin Collins, Assistant Secretary Indoor Department, quoting reference number L.300.42(a).
Att: PE20

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